Good morning TexMessagers! Should tax payers foot the bill for official congressional travel abroad?

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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee meets with the South Korean Supreme Court on a recent trip to the country. (Sheila Jackson Lee/Facebook)

Congress will feel the budget cuts that go into effect today, not through salaries but through their official jaunts around the globe to visit with foreign officials.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told members of the Republican Caucus this week that he’s curbing congressional use of military planes for trips abroad, Foreign Policy reports. This means congressmen will have to pay out of pocket when visiting foreign dignitaries and groups.

Congress typically use military aircraft when visiting foreign dignitaries on official business, which means tax payers are picking up the tabs. This is just another result of the government tightening its belt in light of the across-the-board cuts it will be facing as sequestration goes into effect.

“The Speaker believes this is the prudent and responsible course of action, and it goes above and beyond the spending cuts the House will be implementing to comply with the president’s sequester,” an aide told Foreign Policy.

Just last week during the congressional recess, several Texas lawmakers were using the opportunity to say hello to foreign officials. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee spent time in South Korea, visiting members of South Korea’s Supreme Court, according to photos she posted on Facebook. Rep. Ted Poe was also traveling abroad to discuss the war in Afghanistan and Iran as the newly appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-proliferation, and Trade.

“He looks forward to hearing from leaders in other nations and learning their perspective on matters that impact both the United States and our allies overseas,” a spokesperson for Poe said in an email last week.

This form of official business, also referred to as CODEL, is usually approved through the Speaker’s Office, according to the House Ethics Manual. Congressional trips can be privately funded, given rules on reporting the trip are followed.

Gee, I thought it was already illegal to commit violence on anyone. Why not a Violence Against Americans Act? Democrats are truly worthless. Meaningless legislation while they still haven’t passed a budget in 4 years.

★ March 6 Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled “Waiting for Care: Examining Patient Wait Times at VA [Department of Veterans' Affairs].”

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